Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a recommended action for test teams to reduce the cost of quality?

1. Encourage early life cycle testing practices

2. Document defects thoroughly

3. Increase the number of test cases without prioritization

4. Minimize process mistakes in testing

The correct answer is: Increase the number of test cases without prioritization

Increasing the number of test cases without prioritization is not a recommended action for reducing the cost of quality. While having a wide range of test cases can be beneficial, it becomes counterproductive when quantity is emphasized over quality and relevance. Effective testing focuses on identifying the most critical aspects of the application, thus ensuring that test efforts are concentrated on high-risk areas and functionalities that have significant business impact. Prioritization allows for more strategic utilization of resources by addressing the most important tests first, which can ultimately lead to fewer defects and lower costs. In contrast, encouraging early life cycle testing practices promotes defect identification at earlier stages, which is known to reduce overall costs associated with fixing issues later in the development process. Documenting defects thoroughly helps provide clear traceability and valuable insights for both current and future projects, leading to better quality assurance practices. Minimizing process mistakes in testing is vital for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in testing efforts, thereby ensuring that resources are not wasted on avoidable errors.